Improvement in locks



UNTED STATES'PATENT OEFiCE.

AMOS W. SNOW, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

A|lviPRovl-:ivuznl'r IN LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,688, dated October 9, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos W. Snow, of Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Latch-Looks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in` latch-locks, and consists in inserting in a common casing or box, with the bolt of the latch, a series of tumblers, which tumblers are so arranged as to prevent the latch-bolt from being drawn in by the turning of the handle, connected therewith in the ordinary manner, except (by means ot' a suitable key) the tumblers are tirst brought or adjusted with regard to each other so as to admit of the same.

In accompanyin g plate of drawings my improvements in latch-locks are illustrated, Figure l being a view of the interior ot' the lock casing or box, showing the latch-bolt and arrangement otl tumbler-s with regard thereto; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section taken -in the plane oi' the line 00 or, Fig. l; and Figs. 3 and 4, detail views of keys adapted to the latch-lock shown in the preceding tigures.

A in the drawings represents the box or casing of the latch-lock, made of a square shape, with one its side plates, B, susceptible of being removed; C, the latch-bolt, arranged within the lock-casing and connected with an ordinary door-handle, as in latch-locks of the usual construction or arrangement, a spiral spring, D, throwing out the latch when drawn in by the door-handle; b b, a series ot springtumblers, which may consist ot' any desired number within the scope of the lock, arranged one upon another and turning upon a common fulcrum pin or stud, c, of the lock-easing. These tumblers at one and the same end ar'e made of a forked shape, the width ot the space between their two parallel prongs, d d2, being the same in each tumbler, but having their lower fork-pron gs, d2, of different widths, these tumbler-prongs being toward the keyhole E of the lock, in which a key, F, made of suitable shape to bring or lift the several spaces or slots between the fork-prongs ofthe tumblers in one and a common line with each other, as shown in Figs. l and 2, when, as is obvious,they will allow the latch-bolt to be drawn in, its arm f passing into the said space or slots, the tumblers b b preventing the latchbolt from being drawn in when in any other position than that above explained, thereby rendering it impossible to open the door to which such lock is applied, except with the use of the proper-shaped key for the lock, the operation of which upon the tumblers has been explained.

To prevent the lock from being picked or its tumblers moved without the proper key, I forni around the key-hole, upon the inside ot' the lock7 between it and the tumblers, a guardplate, l, over which the key turns, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, this plate, as is obvious, preventing the tumblers from being tampered with or operated without a propershaped key is used.

In the use of this lock for holding or setting the tumbler-slots ina common line, a key, G, of the shape shown in Fig. 3, is employed, the application of which tothe lock is obvious and is shown in Fig. '1, which key, when turned up and against the tumblers, retains them in proper position for operating the latch-bolt-,Ibut when in the position shown in red in Fig. l is entirely removed from the tumblers. This key G is intended for use upon the inside of the door to which the latchlock is applied.

In lieu of the key Gr, a key similar to that shown in Fig. et may be used, its operation being the saine as before described for key G.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of the latch-bolt C, with its arm j', the spring-tumblers b I), as described, and guard-plate t, constructed and operating, in combination with a suitable handle and key, in the manner herein specified.

AMOS XV. SNOV.

Witnesses A. W. PARK, GEORGE W. WHEELER. 

